American Beauty Essay 30

Title: American BeautyThere are numerous significant motives in the1999 film entitled American Beauty, directed by Sam Mendes. In this film, Lester Burnham-- a 42-year-old, depressed suburban father has a mid-life crisis and voluntarily decides to turn his chaotic life around after developing a fascination for his daughters attractive friend, Angela. Similarly, The title American Beauty is proven to be significant with the satirical lust between Lester and Angela , Lester realizing the beauty throughout his life sincerely, and the American beauty rose used as a symbol. This representation allows the director to ultimately suggest that everyone will see the beauty in America and their lives.

In the movie American Beauty, the lust portrayed is shown very satirically and creates a deep affect on the characters throughout the film. For example, lust is illustrated when Lester notices Angela for the first time and feels instantly compelled to her. Which gives the allusion of beauty but ultimately is very disturbing because of Angela’s age. Although, Lester suddenly feels the need to know Angela. Subsequently, after meeting her he says, “ It’s the weirdest thing I feel like I’ve been in a comma for about 20 years and I’m just now waking up” (American Beauty). In stating this, Lester explains how he felt like he was living every day like the last and not really living at all until he met Angela. To elaborate, Lester states, “The highlight of my day is masturbating in the shower” (American Beauty). By using the word “highlight” sows that it’s the most arousing part of his day which he combines with masturbating. Although, after he meets Angela he feels as though he was “waking up” for the first time (American Beauty). This feeling leads him to start working out, smoking weed, and working at his old teenage job in order to get Angela interested in him. Therefore, the lust shown between Lester and Angela depicts the title American Beauty because of the want or need...

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Themes
Happiness
Exists as an myth, goal (illusion)
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They all have different thoughts and beliefs of what happiness is and how to achieve it
Lester Burnham
Pursues happiness by reaching out to his true desires and ignoring what the society (mostly his wife) has to say
In the end he realizes that he found true happiness, however he took it to a significant extent, by doing drugs, smoking pot, getting a cheap job, seeking a sexual affair with a 15-year-old
His determination to achieve happiness has blinded him, he is willing to do anything to achieve happiness
AmericanBeauty
“The joy in life is his who has the heart to demand it.” The 1999 American drama film, AmericanBeauty, directed by Sam Mendes is about a man’s, Lester Burnham’s, search for happiness. In the film Sam Mendes develops the idea that to secure the satisfaction of self-fulfillment, one must pursue inner happiness to achieve completeness in their life. Initially, Lester has no happiness in his life and he is denied by the society and family. However, he decides to take a stand and reach out to his inner happiness. In the end, Lester achieves the happiness that he has been seeking.
At the beginning of the film, Lester Burnham is in a mid-life crisis which is mostly caused by his wife, Carolyn, and daughter, Jane. He is inferior...

...AmericanBeautyEssay 2
Question (a) A successful film offers an insight into our own society. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
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The first way that this idea of ‘AmericanBeauty’ is portrayed is through the link it has to today's society. In a world where consumerism is part of life, there is a common perception that having the latest trends portray a better image and therefore leads to greater happiness. Although people believe this, consumerism actually leaves them without happiness. This is highlighted in people that may appear to be happy through the image they project to everyone but deep down they are actually unhappy. This is shown in AmericanBeauty as it explores the nature behind...

...children love. All of these different types of love have similar meanings but have a little something different making them unique.” (Bartinelli). This statement is the perfect way to explain love. Even though “love” is a universal word that millions of people use to describe their strong feelings for another person, the interpretation of the word is unique to each individual. There are no set rules or requirements that dictate to a person how they must feel or act in order to use the word love. No relationship is ever completely the same as another, and every couple is different, yet they all use the same word to describe their feelings: love. A more specific example is the relationship between Lester and Carolyn Burnham in the film AmericanBeauty. Lester and Carolyn possessed negative qualities that led to several conflicts with each other and, eventually, overshadowed the positive aspects that kept their love alive.
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...into the script.’
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permeating images that have consumed mainstream American life. Mendes exploits these
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Mendes is able to implicate us in the construction and make us active viewers by exploiting our
voyeuristic nature. In AmericanBeauty Mendes uses the voyeuristic tendencies of the spectator
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video camera, of a young teenage girl. The narration reveals that she wants her father dead. The
image portrayed around her is constructed as an evil, unaffectionate youth. The next scene is of
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...Leslie Raygoza
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Fill Appreciation
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